Bay dredge to go ahead

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The State Government has approved the controversial channel
deepening of Port Phillip Bay

Planning Minister Justin Madden gave the green light for the
project today, after reviewing a report by a panel examining the
environmental effects of the plan, which still needs approval from
other ministers.

Mr Madden outlined a $6.3 million raft of environmental
protection measures and said an independent monitor would be
established to ensure the projects complies those measures.

The minister said the environmental assessment process had been
extensive and exhaustive and a performance bond would be
implemented.

He could not give a time-frame for when the project would go
ahead as it has to pass approval by the Victorian Ports Minister
Tim Pallas and Environment Minister Gavin Jennings, before finally
being signed off by Federal Environment Minister Malcolm
Turnbull.

He said that would not happen until after the federal
election.

Mr Madden drew on an independent panel's report on the
proposal's Supplementary Environmental Effects Statement to make
his assessment.

"The inquiry found that the proposed channel deepening project
as designed is safe, suitable and technically feasible. In fact,
the panel concluded that the technology selected for the project is
best practice," he said.

He had decided the project could proceed subject to a number of
environmental protection measures.

The $6.3 million suite of protections include $5.5 million for
ecological and aquatic research and support for the monitoring of
sea birds and indigenous heritage management of the coastline.

"It's my impression that every item's been covered and as I
mentioned ... there will be a strengthening of the environmental
management plan and there will also be the independent monitor to
provide advice in relation to any matters and that's quite
critical. Because that monitor will provide advice and also monitor
any impact of any sort should it occur, not
only to the environment but any flow-on effect."

He also proposed a performance bond for the project, linked to
"safe and effective channel deepening project delivery and
post-construction recovery".